Mary Paddock
@earthshoes59.bsky.social
Avid rescuer of flea market china, stray animals, and abandoned ideas.
Writer, grandma, mom, wife--order of service prone to change without warning.
Writer, grandma, mom, wife--order of service prone to change without warning.
This is how you find out that you didn't buy enough magnetic letters.
June 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is how you find out that you didn't buy enough magnetic letters.
Losa is 13 months old this week. I've never had a sweeter, easier dog.
May 16, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Losa is 13 months old this week. I've never had a sweeter, easier dog.
This is not AI. This is Life With Moose .
The resort we're staying at has chairs set up just so visitors can watch the sunset.
The resort we're staying at has chairs set up just so visitors can watch the sunset.
May 6, 2025 at 1:21 AM
This is not AI. This is Life With Moose .
The resort we're staying at has chairs set up just so visitors can watch the sunset.
The resort we're staying at has chairs set up just so visitors can watch the sunset.
About an hour outside of Ashville, NC.
Cherokee National Forest.
Cherokee National Forest.
April 30, 2025 at 1:26 AM
About an hour outside of Ashville, NC.
Cherokee National Forest.
Cherokee National Forest.
On the road again! Destination: Norfolk, VA.
Many thanks to our gracious house sitter, Zen Swolley who keeps our home and at home creatures safe.
Moose has been beyond excited from the moment we pulled out the suitcases.
Many thanks to our gracious house sitter, Zen Swolley who keeps our home and at home creatures safe.
Moose has been beyond excited from the moment we pulled out the suitcases.
April 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
On the road again! Destination: Norfolk, VA.
Many thanks to our gracious house sitter, Zen Swolley who keeps our home and at home creatures safe.
Moose has been beyond excited from the moment we pulled out the suitcases.
Many thanks to our gracious house sitter, Zen Swolley who keeps our home and at home creatures safe.
Moose has been beyond excited from the moment we pulled out the suitcases.
We are building a dog. Taking him places, exposing him to unfamiar people, events, and unusual experiences. He is responding by becoming calmer and less concerned with the unfamiliar and unusual.
April 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
We are building a dog. Taking him places, exposing him to unfamiar people, events, and unusual experiences. He is responding by becoming calmer and less concerned with the unfamiliar and unusual.
If you haven't already found it drop in over at Substack and enjoy Richard Parry's cosy Hearthlight series.
April 13, 2025 at 3:10 AM
If you haven't already found it drop in over at Substack and enjoy Richard Parry's cosy Hearthlight series.
Reposted by Mary Paddock
Rocking along to @hbocao.bsky.social ’s Hearthlight Chronicles (my cozy solo run is full of warmth, maybe a wizard, and... sheep? 🐑)
📖 First journal entry’s up:
rollfornarrative.parrydox.com/p/the-hearth...
📖 First journal entry’s up:
rollfornarrative.parrydox.com/p/the-hearth...
🔮 The Wanderlight Chronicles – Day 1: Sheep, Gelato, and Possibly a Wizard Named Hollis
Listen now | I’m journaling through a solo RPG for the next 28 days. Think cozy fantasy meets Choose Your Own Adventure, with dice, daily prompts, and an introverted hero who needs a break (and maybe ...
rollfornarrative.parrydox.com
March 24, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Rocking along to @hbocao.bsky.social ’s Hearthlight Chronicles (my cozy solo run is full of warmth, maybe a wizard, and... sheep? 🐑)
📖 First journal entry’s up:
rollfornarrative.parrydox.com/p/the-hearth...
📖 First journal entry’s up:
rollfornarrative.parrydox.com/p/the-hearth...
Losa's first dinner out. Moose is here too. Guess which one is better behaved?
Hint: it's not Moose.
Mei Le in Eureka Springs is wonderful. Our server, Larry, is the best.
Hint: it's not Moose.
Mei Le in Eureka Springs is wonderful. Our server, Larry, is the best.
April 12, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Losa's first dinner out. Moose is here too. Guess which one is better behaved?
Hint: it's not Moose.
Mei Le in Eureka Springs is wonderful. Our server, Larry, is the best.
Hint: it's not Moose.
Mei Le in Eureka Springs is wonderful. Our server, Larry, is the best.
Apparently, someone did not proofread the article they asked AI to write.
To those who don't live here, there are no volcanos here. Zip. Nadda. None.
www.worldatlas.com/places/9-bes...
To those who don't live here, there are no volcanos here. Zip. Nadda. None.
www.worldatlas.com/places/9-bes...
April 6, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Apparently, someone did not proofread the article they asked AI to write.
To those who don't live here, there are no volcanos here. Zip. Nadda. None.
www.worldatlas.com/places/9-bes...
To those who don't live here, there are no volcanos here. Zip. Nadda. None.
www.worldatlas.com/places/9-bes...
Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.
--Luther Burbank
--Luther Burbank
March 23, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.
--Luther Burbank
--Luther Burbank
Waiting for the lunar eclipse (who needs sleep?)
March 14, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Waiting for the lunar eclipse (who needs sleep?)
On any average day, he's a mess (and presently needs a haircut and bath). He is brave for a blind dog. Loved by the cats because they know he's not like the others. Knows the good guys from the bad. Doles out hugs like medicine (and they are). Is kind, fierce, and neurotic (the wind worries him).
March 14, 2025 at 2:45 AM
On any average day, he's a mess (and presently needs a haircut and bath). He is brave for a blind dog. Loved by the cats because they know he's not like the others. Knows the good guys from the bad. Doles out hugs like medicine (and they are). Is kind, fierce, and neurotic (the wind worries him).
Quite obviously, I can't be counted on to play by the rules. The yellow highlighter is me ferreting over use of gestures. By God but my characters nod a lot. And for someone who isn't known for smiling a lot, I certainly lean on the expression in print.
One line a day for twenty days . . .
One line a day for twenty days . . .
March 5, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Quite obviously, I can't be counted on to play by the rules. The yellow highlighter is me ferreting over use of gestures. By God but my characters nod a lot. And for someone who isn't known for smiling a lot, I certainly lean on the expression in print.
One line a day for twenty days . . .
One line a day for twenty days . . .
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Day 6
See below
Day 6
See below
March 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Day 6
See below
Day 6
See below
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Day 5
An instant later, it was business as usual for everyone except Hannah, who was still shivering.
The steady drumbeat of guilt, which had played in the background of her life for better than six months, grew louder.
Day 5
An instant later, it was business as usual for everyone except Hannah, who was still shivering.
The steady drumbeat of guilt, which had played in the background of her life for better than six months, grew louder.
March 2, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Day 5
An instant later, it was business as usual for everyone except Hannah, who was still shivering.
The steady drumbeat of guilt, which had played in the background of her life for better than six months, grew louder.
Day 5
An instant later, it was business as usual for everyone except Hannah, who was still shivering.
The steady drumbeat of guilt, which had played in the background of her life for better than six months, grew louder.
I love the stars and have since I was a kid.
Not in a science geek, learn all their names sort of way (though being married to a man who does is handy). But in a whispered, "Oh My God" everything else falls away for a few minutes sort of way.
I needed this more than ever tonight.
Not in a science geek, learn all their names sort of way (though being married to a man who does is handy). But in a whispered, "Oh My God" everything else falls away for a few minutes sort of way.
I needed this more than ever tonight.
March 1, 2025 at 5:13 AM
I love the stars and have since I was a kid.
Not in a science geek, learn all their names sort of way (though being married to a man who does is handy). But in a whispered, "Oh My God" everything else falls away for a few minutes sort of way.
I needed this more than ever tonight.
Not in a science geek, learn all their names sort of way (though being married to a man who does is handy). But in a whispered, "Oh My God" everything else falls away for a few minutes sort of way.
I needed this more than ever tonight.
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Over the sands, east of the Chesapeake Bay, rose the red sun. Further inland, errant owls, late, late, late winged to trees, tucking deep into boughs, firmly shutting round gold eyes, bellies full of rats, voles, Luna moths.
Over the sands, east of the Chesapeake Bay, rose the red sun. Further inland, errant owls, late, late, late winged to trees, tucking deep into boughs, firmly shutting round gold eyes, bellies full of rats, voles, Luna moths.
March 1, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
Over the sands, east of the Chesapeake Bay, rose the red sun. Further inland, errant owls, late, late, late winged to trees, tucking deep into boughs, firmly shutting round gold eyes, bellies full of rats, voles, Luna moths.
Over the sands, east of the Chesapeake Bay, rose the red sun. Further inland, errant owls, late, late, late winged to trees, tucking deep into boughs, firmly shutting round gold eyes, bellies full of rats, voles, Luna moths.
Reposted by Mary Paddock
#writers, what’s the weirdest critique you’ve ever received? 🤔
A guy gave my debut novel a one-star review—not for the werewolves, but for a coffee shop.
He even messaged me mid-read to say my take on coffee shops was wrong… despite never having been to Berkeley. 🤦♂️
youtube.com/shorts/XrM-G...
A guy gave my debut novel a one-star review—not for the werewolves, but for a coffee shop.
He even messaged me mid-read to say my take on coffee shops was wrong… despite never having been to Berkeley. 🤦♂️
youtube.com/shorts/XrM-G...
#Short: My Novel Was Too Unrealistic… Because of Coffee?
YouTube video by Richard Parry
youtube.com
February 27, 2025 at 8:26 PM
#writers, what’s the weirdest critique you’ve ever received? 🤔
A guy gave my debut novel a one-star review—not for the werewolves, but for a coffee shop.
He even messaged me mid-read to say my take on coffee shops was wrong… despite never having been to Berkeley. 🤦♂️
youtube.com/shorts/XrM-G...
A guy gave my debut novel a one-star review—not for the werewolves, but for a coffee shop.
He even messaged me mid-read to say my take on coffee shops was wrong… despite never having been to Berkeley. 🤦♂️
youtube.com/shorts/XrM-G...
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
The heavy fabric of loss hung over them, weighted by the lack of closure. No body. No trail of evidence. Neither of them knew where to go from there. Did they demand that everyone believe that Lily still was out there somewhere?
The heavy fabric of loss hung over them, weighted by the lack of closure. No body. No trail of evidence. Neither of them knew where to go from there. Did they demand that everyone believe that Lily still was out there somewhere?
February 28, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
The heavy fabric of loss hung over them, weighted by the lack of closure. No body. No trail of evidence. Neither of them knew where to go from there. Did they demand that everyone believe that Lily still was out there somewhere?
The heavy fabric of loss hung over them, weighted by the lack of closure. No body. No trail of evidence. Neither of them knew where to go from there. Did they demand that everyone believe that Lily still was out there somewhere?
Evi is absolutely certain that she is socially awkward. And just as sure that she can outshoot and out drive any agent on the force.
February 27, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Evi is absolutely certain that she is socially awkward. And just as sure that she can outshoot and out drive any agent on the force.
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
No explanations & no judgement.
Day 3
"The Orca's calls were as much a part of his grief as the spray that dripped down the back of his slicker, the rushing slap of waves against rock retaining walls, the smell of salt, fish, and sea weed."
No explanations & no judgement.
Day 3
"The Orca's calls were as much a part of his grief as the spray that dripped down the back of his slicker, the rushing slap of waves against rock retaining walls, the smell of salt, fish, and sea weed."
February 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
No explanations & no judgement.
Day 3
"The Orca's calls were as much a part of his grief as the spray that dripped down the back of his slicker, the rushing slap of waves against rock retaining walls, the smell of salt, fish, and sea weed."
No explanations & no judgement.
Day 3
"The Orca's calls were as much a part of his grief as the spray that dripped down the back of his slicker, the rushing slap of waves against rock retaining walls, the smell of salt, fish, and sea weed."
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
No explanations & no judgment.
"The dog lay against me, his heart drumming a one-two beat, the warmth of his shivering body pressed against me, his head under my chin. In that moment, we synchronized."
No explanations & no judgment.
"The dog lay against me, his heart drumming a one-two beat, the warmth of his shivering body pressed against me, his head under my chin. In that moment, we synchronized."
February 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days.
No explanations & no judgment.
"The dog lay against me, his heart drumming a one-two beat, the warmth of his shivering body pressed against me, his head under my chin. In that moment, we synchronized."
No explanations & no judgment.
"The dog lay against me, his heart drumming a one-two beat, the warmth of his shivering body pressed against me, his head under my chin. In that moment, we synchronized."